Having recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, this quiet roadside café and nanobrasserie run by couple Éloïse Comtois Mainville and Ludovic Bastien has a small, flavour-packed menu featuring items such as a pork-beat burger, falafel, trout gravlax, and just about all vegetables coming from the adjacent garden. With six different beers on tap, alongside a fruity rhubarb lemonade, this is exactly the kind of place to go to slow down and soak it all in.

Undoubtedly one of the region’s most celebrated microbreweries, Brasserie Dunham offers a high-end pub menu to accompany its plethora of available beers and wines. Think seasonal and embrace some of the funkier options (especially with the brews) to ensure you are making the most out of your visit.

This Insta-famous pit stop in Granby is the perfect place to stuff yourself with griddle cheeseburgers, squeaky cheese curds, and so much more. Don’t miss out on the ice cream or milkshakes either, as their “bar laitier” is arguably just as well-known as their food.

Yet another COVID-era venture brought two female chefs (Mona and Marie-Soleil) together to launch an all-vegan menu of soups and other preserves when takeout reached its peak in mid-2020. At first serving as a regular pop-up, they now have their own location in a lovely backyard setting just off Main Street. Look for items like vegan pad Thai, okonomiyaki, general tao tofu and a jerk burger — all hovering around $20 per dish.

While its original location can be found in neighbouring Dunham, this fine-grocery store is a perfect stop to stock up on local products from the area. With a wide selection of curated goods, there’s something for everyone — whether it’s for a souvenir or to eat on the spot.

Perhaps better known for its beer and specialization in a now somewhat rare cream ale, this Knowlton hotspot offers a wide range of wood-fired sourdough-based pizzas, served on-site and for takeout. Stick around to enjoy the industrial microbrewery vibe, and if the weather’s nice enough, a seat on the sprawling terrasse out back.

Another pandemic-era restaurant to have emerged in the last few months is Bolt Café, owned and operated by Montreal couple Véronique Lacoursière and Pierre-Etienne Boivin. Having left the city for good in August 2020, they purchased a then-closed restaurant and converted it into the café-buvette. Stop in for a classic grilled cheese, excellent coffee (roasted by Montreal-based Escape Roasters), or natural wine. With a small biergarten expansion already in the works, this daytime locale is quickly becoming a crowd favourite.

In need of a Sunday brunch spot? This quiet bistro on the edge of Eastman is well-known for its sizeable breakfasts, as well as regional classics like duck confit from nearby Brome Lake.

This microroastery on the outskirts of Magog is an excellent stop to grab a coffee for the road – and some beans to boot, with well over a dozen different blends available.

Under the helm of chef Alexandre Vachon since late 2018, Le Hatley, set on the banks of Lake Massawippi, is an ideal location for a special occasion. Focusing exclusively on locally-sourced ingredients, Le Hatley offers table d’hôte dining, as well as “discovery menus” (including a vegetarian option) for a set price. Bonus: discounts are available for guests of the hotel.

At one of Sherbooke’s more refined culinary encounters, chef Alain Labrie’s cuisine reinterprets classic French dishes with local ingredients. Add to that the setting of a former presbytery — an almost austere dining room dressed up with white tablecloths. Expect pristine aromas and delicate flavours in harmony with a well-thought-out wine selection. — Allison Van Rassel

The brainchild of three entrepreneurs by the names of Raphael Rioux, Maxime Verpaelst, and Charlie Abran Fréchette, Vin Polisson went where restaurant owners have yet to go before — at least in Sherbrooke. Not particularly known for wine bars, this trio decided (amid a pandemic) to open a small, upscale restaurant featuring seasonal dishes and natural wines comparable to something you might only find in the “big city.” With less than a year under its belt — not to mention several indoor dining closures — the latest deconfinement efforts are what this high-potential spot needed to really get off its feet.

Reward yourself after a day of hiking in Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook at this quintessential bar laitier that long ago became a household favourite for Quebecers. Be prepared to stand in line (or take advantage of their drive-through service), but know that it’s well worth the wait.